The Above || Completed

44 Bloodlust

I woke with a throbbing pain in my head. Before I opened my eyes, I felt that my legs were bound to a chair and my arms tied behind my back. I was slouched forward, having nothing to rest my back against. I tried my best not to show any signs of waking. Clearly, I had been captured.
Well, this'll be easy, I thought, intending to let my wings loose.
But then I was acutely conscious of the foreign tremendous weight on my back. I remembered the contraption used to restrain Aeron. My blood went cold at the realisation that the same device was strapped to my back now. I didn't dare let my wings out now. I nearly screamed and my body began to shake with the first signs of a panic attack.

Suddenly, my eyes snapped open as my head was yanked up by my hair. At first, my vision was blurred with tears but I blinked hastily, refusing to allow my captors the pleasure of seeing me cry. Spotting the high heeled shoes of a woman standing just beside me, I spat on them, making sure I got her skin too. A sharp blade whipped out and painfully caressed my cheek, drawing blood in its wake. I resisted the urge to wince.
"You're good at disguising your blood, Devonne."
Ah, Venus.
My eyes snapped up to see her ridiculously distinct cheekbones bordered by her slick silver hair.
"Where the hell am I?" I demanded.
"Take a look around," she replied sweetly.
The room was dark and stuffy. The heat made it difficult to breathe. The only light was that emitted by a sliver of moonlight pouring through the tiny window to my left.
"Cozy," I said sarcastically.
"You always were unappreciative." Venus sighed.

"You don't know anything about me," I snapped, not even bothering to try stifling my anger.
She smiled villainously. "I know a lot more than you think."
"Prove it," I challenged in an attempt to get her to divulge what she knew.
"For example," she began, "you are the half-breed daughter of Quin and Luziel Zeph. We had Quin killed and Luziel enslaved."
So, he's alive. I nearly sighed with relief. But he's still suffering...
"Go on," I said, still challenging her.
As long as I questioned her pride. I could get information out of her.
"You came to the Above to overthrow the council, am I right?" Venus raised an eyebrow and her little pocket knife.

She had gone and turned her interrogation into mine. Well played. But here was where I could put a twist on a couple of things. Especially their ignorance of Aeron's situation.
I laughed. "I'm the angel you're looking for, yes. But do you actually believe this is all about you? No, I'm here to abolish angelic slavery."
"You didn't come alone, though. It's clear that only one of you isn't powerful enough to touch us," she said, trying to intimidate me.
"You're mistaken. I did come alone," I said matter-of-factly.
"We've confirmed that Aeron is your fellow angel and accomplice," Venus declared.
"Aeron isn't an angel at all," I countered.
Hatred set her blue eyes alight. "How dare you accuse us of such ignorance?"
"My accusation is true," I retorted sharply.
The knife was out again and pressed harshly against the side of my throat, intent to kill. "Careful what you say next, scum."

"I'll be sure to take your advice." I smirked, unafraid. My plan was working. "The only reason you found Aeron was because of alerts from your sensors, correct?"
"It was all the proof we needed," she spat dismissively.
Feeling a surge of satisfaction, I dared to speak my next words slowly. "What if I told you it was all me?"
Venus' hand started trembling and she drew it away from my throat.
"You broke the window and flew out. It explains... a lot," she realised out loud.
"Yes. He found me at the gallery and wanted to tell me that he didn't want a part in this anymore. He's loyal to his council, no matter how cruel their deeds are."
She began to pace. "However, being a citizen of the Above, he had a duty to inform his council. He helped you willingly."
"No, he didn't. I forced him to help me. I bought his silence with his life," I lied, wanting more than anything to protect Aeron.
I couldn't be responsible for whatever they did to him now.
Her lips curled upward. "You angels are nothing but pests."
"I'm glad we mean something to you," I said flatly. "Listen, just let Aeron go and I'll do whatever you ask of me."

A laugh, as rich as honey but as tinged with foreboding as a storm cloud, burst from her mouth. "You're in no place to negotiate, Devonne. In fact, Aeron knows too much. We've already decided to execute him after the Renewal tomorrow."
"No!" I couldn't stop myself from screaming the word that confirmed my every weakness.
"Oh, don't worry." She had a cruel, malicious look in her eyes. A bloodlust. "We're also planning to execute you, and right in front of your daddy too."
She moved into the shadows like a snake as I screamed at her, begged and pleaded and eventually broke down. She relished in the fact that she had power over beings that were meant to be more powerful than her. She had power over me.

^^^